Heating unit



y 11,1965 L. c. HANS-ON 3,183,341

HEATING UNIT Filed Feb. 23, 1962 .2 Sheets-Sheet 1 z x FIEi May 11, 1965 L. c:. HANSON 3,183,341

HEATING UNIT Filed Feb. 23, 1962 v2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,183,341 HEATING UNIT Leroy C. Hanson, Elmhurst, 111., assignor to Ferro Corporation, a corporation of Ohio Filed Feb. 23, 1962, Ser. No. 174,982 3 Claims. (Cl. 219-455) This invention relates to a heating unit assembly, and more particularly to a mounting in an electrical heating unit assembly.

Heating unit assemblies for cooking ranges and the like are frequently in the form of an electrical heating unit received in a dish-shaped base portion of a horizontal cooking surface. These heating units include an electric heating element suitably mounted on a spider type support which is carried by the base. Most such heating elements have an outer sheath of a sturdy metal, and this sheath is generally grounded to prevent shock. While various expedients are well known in the art for mounting and grounding electric heating units, the mountings often cause considerable diffculty in handling the heating unit when cleaning the dish-shaped base and the range generally, or when replacing the heating unit, and similarly, the ground connection is often so located as to be diflicult to release especially if it should become frozen after an extended period.

A primary object of this invention is to provide a new and improved heating unit assembly.

An important object is to provide a new and improved mounting, and more particularly such a mounting suited for use in electric heating unit assemblies.

Another object is to provide a new and improved mounting clip and mounting clip assembly.

A further object is to provide a new and improved grounding anchor clip assembly for electric heating units.

A still further object is to provide a new and improved connection betweena pair of members, and such a connection as is particularly suited for a heating unit assembly.

A more specific object is to provide 'a new and improved heating unit assembly in which a heating unit has a heating element'mounted on a spider having a resilient clip releasably pivoted to a base and urging the spider into releasable engagement with the base for pivotal movement of the heating unit on the base, and a resilient anchor firmly secured to a terminal end of the heating element to stabilize the element, and releasably interlocked with a terminal block for releasably anchoring the heating element on terminal block, the anchor having provision for grounding the heating element.

Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated in the form of a heating unit mounted on a base;

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary plan view of a portion of the heating unit removed from the base and illustrating a mounting clip and grounding anchor assembly;

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary vertical section taken generally along the line 33 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged vertical section taken gen erally along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3;

FIGURE 5 is a vertical section taken generally along the line 5-5 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is an enlarged, perspective view of the mounting clip removed from the heating unit;

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary vertical section taken generally along the line 77 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 8 is a vertical section taken generally along the line 8-8 of FIGURE 7;

FIGURE 9 is a fragmentary plan View of another embodiment of a heating unit;

FIGURE 10 is an enlarged, vertical section taken generally along the line 1tl-lil of FIGURE 9 and FIGURE 11 is an enlarged, fragmentary vertical section taken generally along the line 1111 of FIGURE 1.

While this invention is susceptible to embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail one specific embodiment, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to th embodiment illustrated. The scope of the invention will be pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention is, in brief, directed to a heating unit assembly in which an electric heating unit is mounted on a base by means of a resilient clip which releasably holds the heating unit on the base for pivotal movement away from the base. This clip is connected in a novel and effective manner with a spider of the heating unit assembly and, if desired, with the heating element for stabilizing the heating element. The heating unit is releasably interlocked with a suitable terminal block by means of a grounding anchor for limiting movement of the heating element and providing a convenient and easily handled ground connector.

With reference to FIGURES 1-8 of the drawings, a

heating unit assembly includes a base It which supports a heating unit 11, here in the form of an electric heating unit suitably electrically connected in a terminal block 12 to power leads 13.

Base It may be of any suitable desired type, and in the illustrated embodiment is generally dish-shaped and provides a drip pan underlying the heating unit. As may best be seen in FIGURE 3, base 10 is received in an opening in a horizontal cooking surface 15 of a typical range and has an outwardly extending peripheral flange 16 remcvably supported'on the cooking surface. A generally continuous sidewall 17 depends from the inner edge of flange l6, and a lower flange 13 extends inwardly from the lower edge of side wall 17 for receiving a drip pan flange 19 and thereby removably supporting a depending drip pan 29.

Heating unit 11 is mounted on base 10 land has at least one heating element 22 overlying :drip pan 20. In this embodiment there are two heating elements 22 and 2 3, and those heating elements are concentrically coiled between respective opposite terminal ends 22a and 22b, and 23a and 23b. Heating elements 22 and '23 may be of any suitable type, preferable :with outer sheaths 22c and 23c, respectively. The terminal ends .are suitably connected within terminal block 172 with power leads 13, and preferably these terminal ends are loosely held Within the terminal block to avoid cracking or otherwise damaging a ceramic terminal block as the heating elements expand and contract responsive to heating and coolin thereof.

These heating elements are received on outwardly diverging arms 25 of a spider 26, and are loosely attached to the spider in any suitable manner, for example as shown in FIGURE 11 by means of connectors 27 secured to heating element sheaths 22c and 230 and depending from the underside of the outer convolutions of heating elements 22 and 23, with the connectors loosely retained in holes 28 in the adjacent spider arm. In the illustrated embodiment the outer "ends of each of the diverging spider arms 2-5 is supported on a generally horizontal shoulder 29 of a depression in base side Wall 17.

Heating unit 11 is yieldably and more particularly resiliently and releasably held on base 1% by means here outwardly in a direction generally opposite that of the left hand spider arm 25, as viewed in FIGURE 1. This clip also provides a pivotal connection between heating unit 11 and base to facilitate the heating unit being pivoted upwardly from the position shown in the drawings to facilitate cleaning of the spider, and base, and particularly removal of the drip pan 20, all without disconnecting the heating unit from power lines \13.

Clip 33 is shown separately to enlarged scale in FIG- URE 6, and in FIGURE 7 its preferred attachment to the spider is shown. Clip 33 is of generally shaped configuration and has opposed arms 35 and :36. Arm 35 is secured to spider finger 34, and arm 36 is releasably connected with base ill and, more particularly with base side wall 17, as may best be seen in FIGURE 3.

Attachment of clip '33 to heating unit 11 may best I be seen in FIGURES 7 and 8. The outer end of spider finger :34 is provided with a reduced outwardly extending boss 3-3 intermediate a shoulder 39 against which clip arm '35 is seated. Clip arm 35 has tan opening, here of generally I-shaped configuration, defined in part by inwardly extending horizontal tabs as each snugly engaging opposite sides of spider finger 34, and by vertical second tabs =41 which converge outwardly from arm 35 in a direction toward clip arm 36 and engage outwardly diverging edge surfaces d2 of the finger and more particularly of finger boss 38. In assembling the clip upon the spider, the boss 35S flexes tabs 4d outwardly and as the finger is seated the tabs spring inwardly and snugly engage boss edges 42. Opposed side edges 4'3 of a second opening, in the form of an open ended slot in a flange 44, on the upper portion of arm 35, snugly embrace opposite sides of the finger so that clip 33 is firmly secured to spider finger 34.

The releasable connection between clip 33 and base It) maybest be seen in FIGURES 6 and 6, wherein clip arm 3% has at its upper end an outwardly extending flange 43. This flange has shoulders 49 at either side edge adjacent its outer end defining a reduced portion carrying a retainer for holding the clip on the base, and here the retainer is in the form of a transversely extending lip 50. This lip and the flange reduced portion are received in a slot 51 in base side Wall 57 with lip extending upwardly along the outer surface of side 17. Thus, heating unit '11 may be pivoted on clip 33 between an operative generally horizontal position as shown in the drawings and an elevated position for facilitating cleaning the heating unit assembly.

When the heating unit 1'1 is in operative position, clip 33 is resiliently compressed and urges the spider into snug engagement with the base, and more particularly urges the outer end of the opposed spider arm 25 a into snug resilient engagement with the respective vertical surface of the depressed portion of side wall 17.

Clip 33 is tur-ther provided with a lr-eeper portion 52, as may best be seen in FIGURES 6-8. This keeper is integral with the remainder of the clip and may be formed of the same sheet of metal, or as illustrated in the drawings as a separate piece fixedly secured to the remainder of the clip in a suitable manner as by spot welding. Keeper 52 has a horizontally elongated slot 53 which t-reely receives a portion of one of the heating elements, and in this instance terminal end 26a. Slot 53 is of such shape as to permit slight horizontal movement of the heating element while holding the heating element against any substantial vertical movement so that as the heating element expands and contracts, responsive to heating and cooling thereof, it may move slightly.

Thus, means is provided for effectively limiting move- 7 ment of the heating unit across the base and resiliently I urging at least one spider leg into firm engagement with the hamster resiliently and releasably holding the heating unit on the the outer end portions of spider legs 25 and an abutment defined by shoulder 49 of clip 3-3, and respective cooperating portions of base 10 and more particularly the depressions in side wall .17 and the portion of the side wall containing slot 51.

'Means lfor grounding the heating element and effectively stabilizing and preventing'relative movement between the terminal ends of the heating element and between the heating unit and terminal block 12 is provided, in the illustrated embodiment in the form of a grounding anchor 60, as may best be seen in FIGURES 2-5. This anchor is illustrated of generally L shaped configuration and includes a body portion d1 having openings each receiving different terminal ends, and in the illustrated embodiment terminal ends 22a and 23a of heating elements 242 and 23, respectively. Body 6 1 is firmly and substantiallyrigid'ly secured to these terminal ends, here by means of crimped portions defined by inwardly extending clip collars 62 enca-sing each terminal end. Thus, these terminal ends are held against substantially any relative movement at anchor ed, and spider 26, heating elements 22 and 23, and terminal block 12 are tied together by clip 33 and anchor 60.

Anchor 60 has a transversely extending arm 6-3, and cooperating interlocking latch portions on terminal block 12 and the free end of arm 63 releas-ably and securely connect heating unit 11 and terminal block 12. Herein these means are in the form of a detent 64 onthe free end or" arm as, and abutment shown as a depress-ion 65 in the terminal block. Anchor 60 is also provided with means for grounding the heating element, and herein a ground conductor 66 is connected to the anchor by means of a set screw 67 threadedly received in arm 63. To disconnect the anchor it is merely necessary to flex arm 63 and release detent 64 and slide the heating element out of the terminal block.

FIGURES 9 and 10 illustrate another embodiment of an anchor 69, and similarreference numerals refer to similar parts previously described. This anchor is particularly suited for use in a heating unit having but one heating element '74 with terminal ends 70a andfitlb. The anchor is modified to the extent that one of these terminal ends, here "76a, is freely received in an elongated slot 71, similar to the previously described slot 53 in clip' 33, thus permitting slight relative movement of the heating element terminal ends to avoid damage thereto or to the clip as the heating element expands or contracts during heating and cooling.

I claim: I

1. A heating unit assembly comprising: a base having a slitga heating unit overlying said base and including a spider having outwardly diverging legs with outer end portions, a finger extending in a direction outwardly from and generally opposite that of at least one of said legs and having opposite sides and an outer end portion, and at least one coiled, sheathed electric heating element received on said spider; and a resilient clip having a generally V-shaped body including opposed arms, one of said arms having anopening receiving the finger end portion, said opening being defined by generally opposed inwardly extending first tabs, one snugly engaging each of said finger sides, and generally opposed inwardly extending second tabs converging in a direction toward the other arm and one snugly engaging each of said finger edges, a flange extending inwardly from the free end of said one arm and having a second opening spaced from the first said opening and receiving said finger, said clip snugly engagingsaid finger opposite sides adjacent said second opening tor firmly connecting said clip with said spider, said other arm having an outwardly extending flange with an abutment and a reduced outer end extending outward from said abutment, and a lip extendbase, and herein these means include ing transversely from said flange, said flange being removahly received in said slit and said lip extending along and spaced from a side of said base opposite said spider so that said clip may :be easily positioned in said slit and pivoted therein; and abutment means including the leg outer end portions and the clip abutment, and cooperating portions of said base effectively limiting movement of said heating unit across said base and said clip resiliently urging at least the one said leg opposite the clip into firm engagement with the base for releasably and resiliently holding the heating unit on the base.

2. The heating unit of claim 1 wherein said heating element has terminal ends, and said clip has a keeper portion connected with one of said terminal ends for limited movement of the heating element with respect to the clip responsive to expansion and contraction of the heating element upon heating and cooling thereof.

3. The heating unit assembly of claim 2 wherein said terminal ends extend outwardly past said base; a terminal block receiving said terminal ends; a resilient grounding anchor having a body with openings each receiving ,a different terminal end and tightly encasing at least one of the last said terminal ends to firmly secure the anchor to said heating element, said anchor having an arm extending outwardly from said :body and said arm having a free outer end portion, and ground connector means on said anchor; and means comprising cooperating iatoh portions of said terminal block and arm free end port-ion releasably and firmly connecting the heating element and terminal block.

References Cited by the Examiner RICHARD M. WOOD, Primary Examiner. 

1. A HEATING UNIT ASSEMBLY COMPRISING: A BASE HAVING A SLIT; A HEATING UNIT OVERLYING SAID BASE AND INCLUDING A SPIDER HAVING OUTWARDLY DIVERGING LEGS WITH OUTER END PORTIONS, A FINGER EXTENDING IN A DIRECTION OUTWARDLY FROM AND GENERALLY OPPOSITE THAT OF AT LEAST ONE OF SAID LEGS AND HAVING OPPOSITE SIDES AND AN OUTER END PORTION, AND AT LEAST ONE COILED, SHEATHED ELECTRIC HEATING ELEMENT RECEIVED ON SAID SPIDER; AND A RESILIENT CLIP HAVING A GENERALLY V-SHAPED BODY INCLUDING OPPOSED ARMS, ONE OF SAID ARMS HAVING AN OPENING RECEIVING THE FINGER END PORTION, SAID OPENING BEING DEFINED BY GENERALLY OPPOSED INWARDLY EXTENDING FIRST TABS, ONE SNUGLY ENGAGING EACH OF SAID FINGER SIDES, AND GENERALLY OPPOSED INWARDLY EXTENDING SECOND TABS CONVERGING IN A DIRECTION TOWARD THE OTHER ARM AND ONE SNUGLY ENGAGING EACH OF SAID FINGER EDGES, A FLANGE EXTENDING INWARDLY FROM THE FREE END OF SAID ONE ARM AND HAVING A SECOND OPENING SPACED FROM THE FIRST SAID OPENING AND RECEIVING SAID FINGER, SAID CLIP SNUGLY ENGAGING SAID FINGER OPPOSITE SIDES ADJACENT SAID SECOND OPENING FOR FIRMLY CONNECTING SAID CLIP WITH SAID SPIDER, SAID OTHER ARM HAVING AN OUTWARDLY EXTENDING FLANGE WITH AN ABUTMENT AND A REDUCED OUTER END EXTENDING OUTWARD FROM SAID ABUTMENT, AND A LIP EXTENDING TRANSVERSELY FROM SAID FLANGE, SAID FLANGE BEING REMOVABLY RECEIVED IN SAID SLIT AND SAID LIP EXTENDING ALONG AND SPACED FROM A SIDE OF SAID BASE OPPOSITE SAID SPIDER SO THAT SAID CLIP MAY BE EASILY POSITIONED IN SAID SLIT AND PIVOTED THEREIN; AND ABUTMENT MEANS INCLUDING THE LEG OUTER END PORTIONS AND THE CLIP ABUTMENT, AND COOPERATING PORTIONS OF SAID BASE EFFECTIVELY LIMITING MOVEMENT OF SAID HEATING UNIT ACROSS SAID BASE AND SAID CLIP RESILIENTLY URGING AT LEAST THE ONE SAID LEG OPPOSITE THE CLIP INTO FIRM ENGAGEMENT WITH THE BASE FOR RELEASABLY AND RESILIENTLY HOLDING THE HEATING UNIT ON THE BASE. 